ASHFIELD — The Selectboard voted Monday to opt out of mail-in voting for the May 3 town election, but the town will continue to offer absentee ballots and early in-person voting.

Town Clerk Alexis Fedorjaczenko told the Selectboard that the town typically opts out of mail-in voting for elections that don’t involve federal or state races. Elections with only local positions on the ballot see a smaller voter turnout.

Voters are still able to send in absentee ballots if they are unable to physically make it to the polls, but they must contact Fedorjaczenko at 413-628-4441, ext. 5 or townclerk@ashfield.org to request one. According to the U.S. General Services Administration, absentee voting is when voters apply for and must be granted an excused absence from voting in person, whereas mail-in voting is when ballots are automatically mailed to every registered voter in town.

“People can still do absentee voting if they’re gonna be out of town,” she said.

The annual town election will be held at Town Hall on Saturday, May 3. Polls will be open from 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Additionally, early voting hours will be held at the Town Clerk’s Office in Town Hall on April 23, 24 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and April 28 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.